COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10616, 11 March 1896, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Tuesday evening.

The amount of customs revenue received to-day on goods cleared for consumption was £1397 4s lid.

It is notified in the Gazette that in the railway tariff carbolic acid packed in casks or wrought iron drums (owner's risk) will be classified A, Messrs Thomson, Biidger, and Co. are the successful tenderers for the supply of ship chandlery for the railways at Hillside; the Milburn Lime and Cement Company for the supply of lime and cement at Wellington and Hillside ; and the New Zealand Hardware Company for the supply of leather at Hillside

THE CALCUTTA MARKETS.

Messrs Barry and Co.,'report under date February 1 concerning jute fabrics :—The market for heavy goods has shown signs of weakness during the past fortnight and sellers lowered thrir price of weolpacks to ls 3Jd, at which about 1500 bales were taken, an all-round rate being giv^n tor fixed and loose tops. To-day, however, sellers would probably give fixed tops alone for ls 3_d. There have been inquiries for autumn cornsacks but no business is reported. In bran bags a fair business has been put through at 3s 3Jd for FebruaryMarch and 3« 2}d for April-June shipment. Ore bags have also been dealt in at the fall. Messrs Balmer, Lawrie, and Co. report on the

same date concerning tea:—Public sales during i the past fortnight have passed with a steady feeling for all desirable kinds, a few invoices showing special quality in cup fetching full prices; red and undesirable liquoring kinds have been rather neglected and prices for such have shown a slight decline Future sales, until the close of the seaßon, will be unimportant. Shipments to the colonies to date are 12 millions in excess of last . aeafton.

' RAILWAY RETURNS. The return oT railway receipts and expenditure for the four weeks ending lst February shows the receipts to have been £1U2,50S 4s lOd, and expenditure £59,450 Is. Iv the corresponding period of the previous year the figures were £97,140 15s 4d and £57,547 4s lOd respectively. Oftheievenue the North island lines contributed £3i),154 4s 5d as ! against £37,496 10s Bd, and tho Middle Island lines £63,324 0s 5d as against £59,644 4« Bd. The North Island lines absorbed £2'i,525 9s 7d as against £20.918 4s, and the Middle Island lines £36,924 lis lid as against £36,629 U.s lOd. The proportion of expenses to. revenue on the several lines, calculated on an annual average, for the respective periods of 1896-95 was as follows:—North Islind : Kawakawa, 78 OS, 13401 ; Whangarei, 8257, 85 60, Kaihu, t2'33, 7413; Auckland, 6921, 6975; Napier-Taranaki, 65 76, 0T48; Wellington, 61 SS, 6586. Middle Island: Huruiiui • Bluff, 64 18, 6466; GreymouthBniDi'er, 4589, 5483; Greymouth - Hokitika, 51 30;56'70; Westport, 48'8fi, 4928; Nelson, y2'.9. 9325; Picton, 11964,12568. Grand totals, 6467, 65-20.

The returns for the Hurunui-Bluff section as compared with the corresponding tour weeks of the preceding year, show tbat there was au increase of 1719 in the number of parcels, 8 horses, 5, carriages, 46 dogs, 40 drays, 245 cattle, 18,489 sheep; while there were slight decreases in the number of calves and pins. There was an increase of 48 tons in the quantity of chaff carried, of 2815 tons wool, 188 tons lirewoed, 1494 tons timber, aud 1730 tons luinsrals. There was a decrease of 2577 tons in grain and 36 tons iv merchandise. The passenger and revenue returns for the section were :— ■'"" " 1896. ' 1895! "i! R. Total, '""s. R. Total First... 6,653 31,046 37.8H9 7,621 30,151 37,415 Second 27,751110,042137,793 29,607 97,008126,615 Totals 34,404 141,088175,492 36.86S 127,162 164,030 Season - — 1,916 — — 1,525 Revenue. . 1896. ' 1895. Passengers ... £18,695 12 2 £18,009 5 0 Parcels, luggage, and mails ... 2,615 15 0 1,926 12 2 Goods .'..•" ..' 34,893 7 6 32,30112 6 Miscellaneous ... 764 14 6 772 7 5 Rents and commission... ■•'...■ 905 : 7 9 ,899 4 7 Totals ;'ft ... j£S7,S74 16 11 £53,909 1 8

Amusements.

BIRTHS.

Edie.—On the 17th February, the wife of Edward Edie, of a son. SoOTRR.-On the 6th March 1896, at Spar Bush, Waianiwa, the wife of James Souter, of a daughter.